North Carolina Snake Guides

Knowledge is the best defense. Learn how to identify common local snakes, what to do in an emergency, and how to keep your property snake-free.

Eastern rat snake with its head raised among fallen leaves

What To Do: Snake in House

Found a snake inside your living room or garage? Follow these crucial safety steps to protect your family and pets.

What to do about a snake in the house →
Copperhead coiled in pine straw and fallen leaves

Copperhead Identification

Learn how to safely identify North Carolina's most common venomous snake by its distinct hourglass pattern.

How to identify a copperhead →
Black rat snake coiled on an attic beam

Black Rat Snake Facts

Got a massive black snake in your attic? It's likely a non-venomous Rat Snake looking for rodents. Learn more here.

Black rat snakes in attics and garages →
Tidy front yard with short grass, mulch beds and screened foundation vents

Snake Prevention Tips

Simple DIY landscaping and maintenance tips to make your yard less attractive to snakes and rodents.

How to keep snakes away →
Eastern garter snake with pale yellow stripes coiled on dry leaves and rocks

NC Snakes Overview

A general overview of snake safety and authoritative resources for residents of North Carolina.

Snakes in North Carolina guide →
Northern watersnake with brown crossbands stretched along a gray rock

Snakes Around Lake Norman

Is the snake by your dock a water moccasin? Our guide to Lake Norman snakes shows how NC Wildlife tells a cottonmouth from a harmless water snake.

Lake Norman snakes guide →
Young copperhead coiled on green moss, showing hourglass bands and a yellow-green tail tip

Small Snake With a Yellow Tail?

Found a small banded snake? Our guide to the baby copperhead explains the yellow tail tip and the harmless look-alikes NC State Extension describes.

Tell a young copperhead from a look-alike →
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